Inpatient: meaning, definitions and examples
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inpatient
[ ˈɪnˌpeɪʃənt ]
medical setting
Inpatient refers to a patient who is admitted to a hospital or clinic for treatment that requires at least one overnight stay. These patients usually receive more extensive medical attention and monitoring during their stay. The term is often contrasted with 'outpatient', where patients receive treatment without being admitted. Inpatients typically have more serious medical conditions that necessitate closer observation and care.
Synonyms
admitted, confined, hospitalized.
Examples of usage
- The patient is classified as an inpatient due to the severity of the condition.
- Inpatients are monitored more closely during their recovery.
- The hospital has increased its inpatient capacity to accommodate more patients.
Translations
Translations of the word "inpatient" in other languages:
🇵🇹 internado
🇮🇳 अस्पताल में भर्ती
🇩🇪 stationär
🇮🇩 rawat inap
🇺🇦 лікарняний
🇵🇱 pacjent hospitalizowany
🇯🇵 入院患者
🇫🇷 hospitalisé
🇪🇸 hospitalizado
🇹🇷 yatan hasta
🇰🇷 입원 환자
🇸🇦 مريض داخلي
🇨🇿 hospitalizovaný
🇸🇰 hospitalizovaný
🇨🇳 住院病人
🇸🇮 hospitaliziran
🇮🇸 inniliggjandi
🇰🇿 стационарлық
🇬🇪 ინტერნატული
🇦🇿 stasionar
🇲🇽 paciente hospitalizado
Etymology
The term 'inpatient' is derived from the combination of the prefix 'in-' meaning 'within' or 'inside' and 'patient,' which originates from the Latin 'patiens,' meaning 'to suffer' or 'to bear.' The use of 'inpatient' to describe patients who are admitted to a healthcare facility dates back to the early 20th century. Prior to this, healthcare terminology primarily classified patients simply as 'patients' while general hospitals divided care based on whether treatment was administered within the hospital or at external facilities. Over time, the need for distinguishing types of care emerged, leading to the formal definition of 'inpatient' in medical settings. This classification allows healthcare professionals to manage resources accordingly and optimize patient treatment plans.